A Mennonite family name in West Prussia, Fröse appeared in rural Frisian congregations and in Danzig. It was first mentioned 1655. In its earlier forms this family name cannot clearly be distinguished from the name Friesen; possibly both names developed from the same root. In 1776, 59 families of this name were counted in West Prussia (without Danzig), 254 persons in 1910, and 195 persons in 1935. Peter Fröse of West Prussia was a Mennonite writer and elder.